Buckle



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'(No Model!) W. F. sW ET.

BUCKLE.

Y .No'. 532,433. Patented Jan. 8,1895.-

WITNESSES .Attorney 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. F. SWEET.

BUCKLE.

(No Model.)

No. 532,433. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

S 5 S M. W

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SWEET, OF \VEBBS MILLS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. E.

, GILLETT, OF RENIFF, NEW YORK' I BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,433, dated January8, 1895.

Application filed. December 30,1893. Serial No. 495,243. (No mods To aZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SWEET, a

citizen of the United States,and a resident of Figure 1 is a plan viewof the invention as i applied. 7 Fig. 2 is a side view of the invention.Fig. 3 is a similar view, inverted, from the opposite side. Fig. 4isaplan view of part of the frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thesame. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view ofone of the pinch and tongueframes. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the keeper M. Fig. 8 is a similarview of the other pinch and tongue frame. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspectiveviews showing modifications, and Fig. 11 is a detail, bottom plan viewof a portion of the buckle shown in Fig. 10.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inpinch buckles, and is designed to provide an improved device of thischaracter for use on various parts of harnesses; and the inventionconsists in the novel'construction and combination of parts all ashereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illus-' trate the invention, Fig. 1shows the buckle as constructed for and applied to a hame tug, theletter A designating the longtug, B the short tug, and O the back-band.

D designates the main frame of the buckle, and E and F are the pinch andtongue frames, one for the short tug and the other for the long tug.

at designates that portion of the main frame, at the forward endthereof, which receives the short tug B, and which consists of the broadouter portion b, and the lateral portions 0, c, which extend only aboutone-half the length of the portion 1), and terminate in 50 the obliqueends 0'.

frame E corresponds in form to the portion a solar loop for the tug.

The pinch and tongue of the main frame, having the broad portion d,and'the lateral portions 01', whose ends are beveled to correspond withthe bevel of the ends 0' with which they engage. The said frame E andthe portion a, are applied to each other reversely, as shown, by alongitudinal or endwise movement the oblique ended lateral portions ofthe two parts interfitting and forming with the portions 1) and d, arectan- On the inner face of the portion d are two tongues e, e, forengagement with the tug, the portion 5 of the main frame being slottedat f, f, to receive the projecting ends of said tongues. I prefer toemploy two tongues instead-of one for the reason that they may be madesmaller and do not requirethe tug to be cut away to as great an extent.The two parts a and E are held from longitudinal movement out ofengagement with each other by means of a set-screw g.

The frame D is offset at it so that the loop for the long tug is out ofthe plane of the loop for the short tug, as shown. This loop for thelong tug consists of theportion k of the main frame and the-pinch andtongue frame F, both of which are constructed and applied to each otherin the same manner as the parts a and E above described, the frame Fhaving two tongues 70 for engagement with the tug. Instead however ofsecuring the parts it and F against movement away from each other bymeans of a set-screw, I pivot to the said frame F, a small lever H,preferably of spring character. This lever is adapted to be turned downinto locking engagement with a lug or projectionl on the main frame, andwhen so locked the parts are held in secure engagement with each other.By releasing this lever, the frame F may be readily moved 9o endwise andthe tug adjusted to the desired point. For this purpose a stud orprojection m is provided on the inain frame against which the short armof the lever takes a bearmg. I g r L designates the holder through whichpasses and in which is held the back strap 0, the frame D being cutawayor recessed transversely therefor, and provided at such re- IOOengagement with the under-rabbeted edges on of the recessed or cut awayportion. Stops n on one end portion of the keeper limit its slidingmovement, and a lug P on the lever 11 prevents said keeper beingwithdrawn until said lever is released. This construction provides forthe ready adjustment of the back strap.

The oblique engaging ends of the parts are preferably provided withbeveled tongues and grooves, as shown. On the forward end of the frame Dis a guide loop or keeper N. for the long tug.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modification of the buckle constructed on thesame principle, and havinga cock-eye attachment. This buckle it will beobserved is exactly the same as that portion of the one above describedwhich receives the short tug, with the exception that in place of theattachment for the long tug, I provide a cock-eye R. The loop or keeperN is also omitted. The two portions S and S of this form engage eachotherin the same manner as the parts a and E, and are held by a screw 5in the same manner.

In Fig. 10 is a further modification which is the same as that lastdescribed with the exception that instead of the cock-eye R, a snap hookT is provided, and in place of the securing screw I provide the tongueand pinch portion S with a stud or pin 25 which engages a perforation inthe springtongue U of the snap hook and locks the two parts together.Pressing in the tongue to engage and disengage the hook will notdisengage this stud or pin, but by pressing in the tongue near its root,and at the same time raising the portion S and pulling it toward thehook, the disengagement is readily effected. The tongue U is slotted atto to receive the tongues L02.

Having thus described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A buckle, having two members each of which has a broad, fiat portionformed at each lateral edge with a vertical flange which extends but aportion of the length of the member, said flanges terminating each in anoblique undercut shoulder, said members when applied to each otherreversely and longitudinally forming a rectangular closure open at eachend,said shoulders interfitting one with another and holding saidmembers against movement except in the direction of their application,means for locking said members against movement in the direction oftheir application and for securing a strap in said closure, and anattachment extension on one of said members, substantially as specified.

2. In a buckle, the combination with the main frame D, offset at itscentral portion and having the portions a and 70 having the ob liqueshoulders, of the tongue and pinch frames E and F, adapted to be appliedto the respective portions a and 7a, and of corresponding form thereto,and forming therewith rectangular loops, tongues on said frames E and F,and means for normally preventing their disengagement from the mainframe, substantially as specified.

3. The herein described buckle comprising the main frame D offset at itscentral portion and having the portions or and 70 provided each with theoblique ended lateral portions, the tongue and pinch frameE applied tothe portion a and forming therewith a rectangular loop, said portonEcorresponding in form to the portion a; and having oblique shoulders forengagement with the oblique ends of the said portions, the screw forholding said parts in engagement, the frame F applied to the portion (Z7c in the same manner that the frame E is applied to the portion a, andthe pivoted locking lever for normally holding said frame F inengagement, said frames E and F having tongues, substantially asspecified.

4. In a buckle, the combination with the main frame offset at itscentral portion and having means at its forward end for connection withthe short tug of a harness, of the portion 70 at its rear end having theoblique ended lateral portions, the frame F of corresponding form andapplied thereto longitudinally and reversely, the lever pivoted to saidframe F and arranged to engage a lug or projection on the main frame,the bearing stud for said lever, the holder on said main frame for theback-strap, the sliding keeper, and a lug on said lever adapted to locksaid keeper,

substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. swnn'r.

Witnesses:

WM. II. MnRaiLLs, SAMUEL CASSADA.

